Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) at Quinsigamond Community College

In Massachusetts, HVAC programs vary widely in first-year outcomes—from nearly $30,000 to over $50,000—and comparable programs suggest Quinsigamond sits near the state middle at around $37,000. With estimated debt of $9,300, you're looking at roughly three months of earnings to repay what a graduate might owe, which is manageable for a credential program. The debt figure is actually slightly better than both state and national medians for HVAC certificates, suggesting the program keeps costs reasonable.

The bigger question is whether this middle-of-the-pack estimate reflects the reality graduates will face. Two other Massachusetts programs report significantly higher starting pay—Motoring Technical Training Institute's graduates earn over $51,000—which suggests location, training quality, or employer connections can make a substantial difference in this field. HVAC is consistently in demand across Massachusetts, but not all programs seem to position graduates equally well for higher-paying opportunities in the Boston metro area versus smaller markets.

If your child attends Quinsigamond, push them to pursue every internship and industry certification opportunity available, and have them research where program alumni actually land jobs. The fundamentals here—low debt, reasonable estimated earnings—provide a solid foundation, but the gap between average and top-performing programs in this state suggests that what students do during the program matters as much as the credential itself.